Welcome to Vega, Texas!
Our first taste of “Smalltown, USA” was the delightful little town of Vega, Texas. With a population of about 900, a darling old Main Street, and the friendliest butcher you’ve ever met, Vega begs you to forget your plans and just stay forever. Fortunately for all my blog followers, the excessive heat reminded me to get back into our air conditioned RV and keep moving. But not before we made friends and took pictures with the butcher, her sweet daughter, and the lady at the post office…who happens to be the butcher’s aunt. Gotta love small towns!
Overflowing Joy at an Arizona Overlook
After several days of driving in the heat, sleeping in the parking lots of Walmart, and traveling hundreds of miles a day, we had about a 30-minute gift from the Lord at this scenic overlook in Arizona. As you can see from the photos, the view was breathtaking and we all felt our spirits lift. How kind of God to have given us this opportunity to travel the country as a family!
I am NOT a dancer, but on this day, my joy overflowed and I just had to dance. I’m working on getting this video set to music, but enjoy my silliness as is! (Mom, click on the underlined words above.)
Crossing the Surface of Mars
Good thing we were refreshed in Arizona, because as soon as we crossed into California, we were on a different planet. Some may call it the desert, but I am convinced we crossed the surface of Mars. Just as we began our ascent into the mountains, we were greeted with a friendly sign that advised us to avoid overheating our vehicle by turning off the AC for the next 10 miles. Oh boy. Friends, it was 111 degrees and we were pulling 28,000 pounds uphill at 30 mph. With the windows closed and no AC. For 10 miles. I don’t really know exactly where we were, but I think I remember some signs that said something about “devil” and “death”. The video of our trek through the desert mountains on Route 8 is a little long, but its a pretty good snapshot of a family experience we will never forget.
Refreshment in Paradise (during the heat wave, but its a dry heat)
How relieved we were to finally see the palm trees and terracotta roofs of San Diego! My first thought was, “We have arrived in Paradise!” Sure enough, the last two weeks we have finally slowed down and rested in a lovely shady campsite surrounded by the sights and sounds of native wildlife. We have a fabulous neighbor who is a resident here and spends his quiet hours pursuing his own passion for writing. Daily we are the beneficiaries of all sorts of tips, not just on RV living, but on getting the kids going with their interests in writing and film making. Visits with friends and family, short day trips, and sitting around the air conditioned RV doing pretty much nothing has filled our days. I’m not sure what the staff at Ramona Oaks RV Resort thinks about the number of times we have asked to extend our stay, but we are getting some much needed refreshment and regrouping in preparation to head north this weekend. Please enjoy the photos, and comment below so we know you are following our journey! Knowing you are “with us” in spirit is a great comfort and encouragement as we adjust to our new life on the road.
Chris — Rachel and her family are in Redondo Beach, CA. Her cell is 310-663-4475; email at lahela3@gmail.com. They just got back from Palm Springs.
Glad you are having such a great adventure!
Aloha, Estelle
Thank you! Finally we are seeing why people love to live here 🙂
So nice to hear you all have had some time to rest and recuperate from all the travel! Your campground looks like a lovely place! 🙂
Where are you headed next? And how can we pray for you?
Blessings to all! (and Melissa sends her love & hugs to all as well)
Thank you for asking, Vicki. We could definitely use prayer for adjustment for all of us. EVERYTHING is new and there is no escaping being together 24/7. We need the Lord’s help to learn to work as a team 🙂
Is it me, or does Genevieve resemble Audrey a little?
LOVE the photos and commentary 🙂 Peter and I visited the Ronald Reagan library (?) around 2003 in Simi Valley. Well…it closed as we were pulling up. But we were permitted to tour the grounds. We saw a sign that said to be careful of rattlesnakes. Thought that was a joke 🙂 Luckily didn’t see any!
I’m enjoying your posts, Chris. My parents had wished to do this very thing when we 4 were teenagers, but that was before technology advances made working from the road an option. It’s fun to live vicariously!
Looking forward to having you along on the journey, Debbie! And one day, YOUR kids will be teens, hee, hee!
What an adventure!
Glad to have you along!
It sounds as though you are having a wonderful experience! The video would not open for me, alas! Am in Vermont visiting with Kitty and Jack. Tomorrow to Burlington. It is good to see everyone.
I’ll be working on the videos so they will be more reliable. Learning as I go!
Just know that it’s hot back East too. Around 95 today and the next few days. But you still have us beat at around 120. But it’s DRY heat!
Finally I understand that “dry heat” thing. It really is not nearly as bad as humidity. And a number of times we have looked at the landscape and said, “It’s dry. And dead” in honor of Laura on one of your Christmas videos 🙂
122 degrees? I do not think I’ve ever experienced that kind of heat! I know it makes a difference being dry heat, but… whoa. Careful of black widow spiders in CA. Usually they could be found if looked for. But having the whole outdoors as an expanded living room and no bugs is SUCH A TREAT! Enjoy! Oh! And if you get to the Altamount Pass in Northern CA, that is a sight to see of windmills!!! Extraordinary.
122 degrees? I do not think I’ve ever experienced that kind of heat! I know it makes a difference being dry heat, but… whoa. Careful of black widow spiders in CA. Usually they could be found if looked for. But having the whole outdoors as an expanded living room and no bugs is SUCH A TREAT! Enjoy! Oh! And if you get to the Altamount Pass in Northern CA, that is a sight to see of windmills!!! Extraordinary.
P.S. I love Muir Woods btw.
I am sure we will be back to CA and have another chance to see more of these great places 🙂 We loved not having bugs in Southern CA. But then I realized that this means no butterflies either!!! Now in Northern Cal we are seeing more 🙂
Great pictures! Love following your adventure. Keep on posting, I’m enjoying the ride without the heat! LOL!
Thanks, Lynda! Happy to have you along!
Elizabeth and I have decided to call the smoothie the “3000 mile” smoothie.
That’s the best 🙂 Send me pictures!!!
Great pictures and what memories you’re making! I love reading about your adventures so I can live vicariously through you and your family.
What is the significance of the fingers on the 4th of July hike photo?
In the July 4th hike pictures we are showing that it is 99 degrees. Should have made that more clear…
So happy to have you following along!!